Posted on 01/30/2025 6:21:44 AM PST by Red Badger
🚨#BREAKING: Shared to me anonymously shows the Playback from official Air Traffic Control radar:
Watch as exclusive playback, sent anonymously by @avgeekjake to Rawsalerst, reveals official Air Traffic Control radar footage displaying the Collision Alert. This alert is not for an imminent collision but serves as a tool to draw heightened attention from the controllers to potential risks. The footage then captures the critical moment when both aircraft collided, emphasizing the urgency of the controllers' split-second decisions. The radar data provides a detailed view of the events leading up to the crash, offering valuable insight into the sequence of actions and how the situation ultimately unfolded
(Excerpt) Read more at x.com ...
🚨#BREAKING: Shared to me anonymously shows the Playback from official Air Traffic Control radar
📌#Washington | #DC
Watch as exclusive playback, sent anonymously by @avgeekjake to Rawsalerst, reveals official Air Traffic Control radar footage displaying the Collision Alert.… pic.twitter.com/s2SvT2OTPJ— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 30, 2025
Unbelievably tragic. God accept them into your kingdom.
I think it is near certain that the primary cause was helicopter pilot error. Next, why are we allowing collision courses in the first place. Lastly, it sounds like controllers warned the helicopter.
Helicopter ran into the plane and was ordered to go behind it. Helicopter pilot error, very sad.
The video shows a pretty fair distance between the two but the helicopter never veered . . . straight into the plane.
For 'them' on the plane who practiced lawlessness and died unrepentant, doubt that's gonna happen:
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matt. 7:22-23 NKJV
For context, PAT25 is the chopper, "the CRJ" is the commuter.
This controller tried to contact the helo for nearly a MINUTE getting no response before the collision - and a minute is an eternity in aviation.
The helo did not respond, and that's cause for investigation, but why didn't the controller make a call to the commuter for avoidance turn or climb after the helo didn't respond the first time?
all good comments and questions.
DCA uses that circle to land to increase traffic flow. It requires a fairly significant turn to final at low level. As a corporate pilot flying into DCA, I would say “operationally unable circle.” Then land straight ahead. I don’t know why the military aircraft was within the circle.
From the looks of it, and witness on the ground said the jet had just turned to align with the runway 33, so the landing lights may have blinded the helicopter pilots...........
The blame for this accident is 80% ATC and 20% pilot error. They were on a collision course. This situation was not appropriate for visual separation. ATC should have given the helicopter an ordered turn. It should never have been allowed into that airspace of landing traffic, period.
Breaking:
It is now being reported/confirmed that the helo crew were using night vision systems and that it was annual training. This could mean that the level of currency in using night vision systems was low (annual/yearly/infrequent/rusty/etc.) contributing to the likely possibility that the helo crew never saw the jet until it was too late, or not at all until impact.
[[[ Here’s a thought, how about not using night vision systems in a congested metropolitan area, where large jets cross your path, especially if it has been up to a year since the same kind of training was last conducted. ]]]
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(Bringing the below post over from another thread.)
Aviation maps require helos to fly no higher than 200’ AGL, on a path due south, following the east bank of the Potomac River, in or near the south approach to Reagan Airport.
Once south, and past the Wilson Bridge, helos may ascend to no more than 300’ AGL.
The collision is reported to have taken place at 350’ - 400’ AGL.
Initial conclusion drawn, would be that the helo was out of it’s permitted altitude parameters.
I know, I know. Stating the obvious. <> freepersup <>
BTTT
My question is, why was the helicopter allowed into that air space in the first place? If planes are landing and taking off he shouldn’t have been anywhere near that airport.
After once staying in a Holiday Inn Express, that might be the first thing I changed in the future.
Heard the helicopter was on a training mission. Let’s see WHO was being trained and why over DC?
The scenario described is preposterous.
Still awaiting both flight manifests.
That will help to determine if it was accidental or not.
If the helicopter was on a training mission, would there not have been an experienced instructor pilot in one of the seats?
I heard a very experienced instructor was in the front seat.
True. We always have to be ready, hope many were.
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